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Was Phil Mickelson right about Tom Watson’s Ryder Cup captaincy? Was Phil Mickelson right about Tom Watson’s Ryder Cup captaincy?
(about 2 hours later)
Wave after wave of attack. No complacency. Concentration. When the storm comes, we’ll be the rock.Wave after wave of attack. No complacency. Concentration. When the storm comes, we’ll be the rock.
One by one, Europe’s triumphant Ryder Cup players reeled off the mantras through which Paul McGinley, their popular captain, had carefully stitched together his “template” for victory.One by one, Europe’s triumphant Ryder Cup players reeled off the mantras through which Paul McGinley, their popular captain, had carefully stitched together his “template” for victory.
Then Rory McIlory, the world No1, who had lobbied and cajoled for McGinley to be captain, interjected through the post-victory fug of Champagne corks and bonhomie: “There’s one more”.Then Rory McIlory, the world No1, who had lobbied and cajoled for McGinley to be captain, interjected through the post-victory fug of Champagne corks and bonhomie: “There’s one more”.
A laughing McGinley picked up the baton, nodding in the direction of his champagne-wielding wildcard pick Lee Westwood: “Have fun – Westy remembers that one.”A laughing McGinley picked up the baton, nodding in the direction of his champagne-wielding wildcard pick Lee Westwood: “Have fun – Westy remembers that one.”
It was a vignette that said much about McGinley’s triumph over his golfing hero, Tom Watson, and its marriage of modern sporting pragmatism with old-fashioned dressing room spirit.It was a vignette that said much about McGinley’s triumph over his golfing hero, Tom Watson, and its marriage of modern sporting pragmatism with old-fashioned dressing room spirit.
The contrast with Watson, the golfing legend who cut a remote figure in defeat and was then brutally cut down by his most experienced player in a vicious coda, could not have been more stark.The contrast with Watson, the golfing legend who cut a remote figure in defeat and was then brutally cut down by his most experienced player in a vicious coda, could not have been more stark.
At 65, Watson was 21 years older than his most senior players and 44 years older than Jordan Spieth, the US tyro who was two months old when his captain last led the US to victory on foreign soil. He had not even been to a Ryder Cup since. At 65, Watson was 21 years older than his most senior players and 44 years older than Jordan Spieth, the US tyro who was two months old when his captain led the US to their last victory on foreign soil. He had not even been to a Ryder Cup since.
In contrast, McGinley was involved in five of the last six Ryder Cups as a player or vice-captain, and reverentially refined a carefully balanced mix of modern sports psychology and the sentimental emotion piqued in his players by this unique team contest. In contrast, McGinley was involved in five of the previous six Ryder Cups as a player or vice-captain, and reverentially refined a carefully balanced mix of modern sports psychology and the sentimental emotion piqued in his players by this unique team contest.
Much has changed in sport since Watson led the US team to victory at the Belfry and he sometimes seemed bemused by the sprawling circus the Ryder Cup had become.Much has changed in sport since Watson led the US team to victory at the Belfry and he sometimes seemed bemused by the sprawling circus the Ryder Cup had become.
As Phil Mickelson mercilessly demolished his management style, having evidently decided revenge was a dish best served piping hot, the rest of the team shuffled uneasily in their seats.As Phil Mickelson mercilessly demolished his management style, having evidently decided revenge was a dish best served piping hot, the rest of the team shuffled uneasily in their seats.
The timing of Mickelson’s carefully delivered, wounding attack on his captain’s style and methods was harsh and, arguably, cowardly.The timing of Mickelson’s carefully delivered, wounding attack on his captain’s style and methods was harsh and, arguably, cowardly.
But his underlying point – Watson’s inability to forge bonds with his players, his resistance to the US Marines-style “pod system” employed by Paul Azinger in 2008, his failure to develop a cogent “game plan” or plan for contingencies – rang true. For his part, Watson seemed unable to assess where things had gone wrong.But his underlying point – Watson’s inability to forge bonds with his players, his resistance to the US Marines-style “pod system” employed by Paul Azinger in 2008, his failure to develop a cogent “game plan” or plan for contingencies – rang true. For his part, Watson seemed unable to assess where things had gone wrong.
“My two jobs are to make the captain’s picks and then put the team together. Those are my two most important jobs,” he repeated.“My two jobs are to make the captain’s picks and then put the team together. Those are my two most important jobs,” he repeated.
Even within those narrow parameters, there were glaring errors – from Webb Simpson’s wildcard pick to Watson’s decision to bench young tyros Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed on that first morning. Even within those narrow parameters, there were glaring errors – from Webb Simpson’s wildcard pick to Watson’s decision to bench the young tyros Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed on that first morning.
Never one to blame anyone other than himself as a player, it was perhaps natural that he shifted the blame on to his team. Never one to blame anyone other than himself as a player, it was perhaps natural that he shifted the blame on to his team. “In the infamous words of our president, we just got shellacked,” he said after Europe turned the screw on Saturday. After they sealed victory he could only offer: “Listen, the Europeans kicked our butt. The bottom line is they kicked our butts.”
“In the infamous words of our president, we just got shellacked,” he said after Europe turned the screw on Saturday. After they sealed victory he could only offer: “Listen, the Europeans kicked our butt. The bottom line is they kicked our butts.”
Alongside the dramatic frisson, there was a tinge of regret hanging over the press conference room at Gleneagles on Sunday night, at the very public manner in which the revered Watson was demolished.Alongside the dramatic frisson, there was a tinge of regret hanging over the press conference room at Gleneagles on Sunday night, at the very public manner in which the revered Watson was demolished.
Ted Bishop, the PGA of America president, picked Watson because he believed he would command respect. But the lesson of Europe’s success may be that the collective is now more important.Ted Bishop, the PGA of America president, picked Watson because he believed he would command respect. But the lesson of Europe’s success may be that the collective is now more important.
McGinley’s microscopic attention to detail and determination to leave no stone unturned, which took in endless phone calls and trips to see his players, not to mention blue and gold fish only in the team room fish tank, brought to mind other great sporting templates, from Sir Clive Woodward’s “T-CUP” to British Cycling guru Sir Dave Brailsford’s “marginal gains”. McGinley’s microscopic attention to detail and determination to leave no stone unturned, which took in endless phone calls and trips to see his players, not to mention blue and gold fish only in the team room tank, brought to mind other great sporting templates, from Sir Clive Woodward’s “T-CUP” to the British Cycling guru Sir Dave Brailsford’s “marginal gains”.
The last words the European team saw as they left the locker room to march through a tunnel decorated with past Ryder Cup heroes, to the first tee at Gleneagles and the deafening roar beyond were these: “Best days of your lives”. The last words the European team saw as they left the locker room to march through a tunnel decorated with past Ryder Cup heroes, to the 1st tee at Gleneagles and the deafening roar beyond were these: “Best days of your lives”. It was what the late Bob Torrance – the father of the vice-captain Sam, a “father figure” to his fellow vice-captain Padraig Harrington and a long-time coach to McGinley – used to say to the players as they left the driving range.
It was what the late Bob Torrance – the father of the vice-captain Sam, a “father figure” to his fellow vice-captain Padraig Harrington and a long-time coach to McGinley – used to say to the players as they left the driving range.
It epitomised the feelgood factor McGinley and the emotional bond he created with his players.It epitomised the feelgood factor McGinley and the emotional bond he created with his players.
Sergio García explained how much the confidence invested in him by McGinley meant; the final day hero Jamie Donaldson recalled how he had sat in the caddy room in Valhalla with his captain as he fell out of the automatic qualification slots, to plot a way back into contention and McIlory again waxed lyrical about his motivational techniques. Sergio García explained how much the confidence invested in him by McGinley meant; the final day hero Jamie Donaldson recalled how he had sat in the caddie room in Valhalla with his captain as he fell out of the automatic qualification slots, to plot a way back into contention and McIlroy again waxed lyrical about his motivational techniques.
Victor Dubuisson, the talented young Frenchman, was racked with nerves before the first tee on Friday. But McGinley’s far-sighted decision to pair him with Graeme McDowell paid off in spades for all parties. Victor Dubuisson, the talented young Frenchman, was racked with nerves before the 1st tee on Friday. But McGinley’s far-sighted decision to pair him with Graeme McDowell paid off in spades for all parties.
In one of the pre-tournament press conferences he let slip that he had kept a series of journals with notes on every player, meticulously logging their individual attributes and peculiarities. In one of the pre-tournament press conferences the captain let slip that he had kept a series of journals with notes on every player, meticulously logging their individual attributes and peculiarities.
McGinley was modest to a fault, insisting he was standing on the shoulders of giants in merely refining the template minted by Tony Jacklin and refined by those captains he had played under and accompanied as an assistant.McGinley was modest to a fault, insisting he was standing on the shoulders of giants in merely refining the template minted by Tony Jacklin and refined by those captains he had played under and accompanied as an assistant.
García and Thomas Bjorn, playing his first Ryder Cup since 2002, discussed what marked McGinley out. “A lot more modern, every detail, it was right there. He thought of everything,” said the Spaniard. García was clear what marked McGinley out: “A lot more modern, every detail, it was right there. He thought of everything.”
Westwood added: “I think Paul got a great template and a model for captains going forward. I think you could base your captaincy and your future captain around the way Paul did it this week.” Far from refining a template, he minted a new one.Westwood added: “I think Paul got a great template and a model for captains going forward. I think you could base your captaincy and your future captain around the way Paul did it this week.” Far from refining a template, he minted a new one.
Almost every decision he made – from splitting McIlroy and McDowell so each could flourish with new partners, to pairing Lee Westwood with Jamie Donaldson – came off. Crucially, each one was methodically weighed up, talked through with his vice-captains and carefully calibrated.Almost every decision he made – from splitting McIlroy and McDowell so each could flourish with new partners, to pairing Lee Westwood with Jamie Donaldson – came off. Crucially, each one was methodically weighed up, talked through with his vice-captains and carefully calibrated.
McIlroy said: “From the first day we got here, the speeches that he gave, the videos he showed us, the people that he got in to talk to us, the imagery in the team room, it all tied in together; all part of the plan all for the cause of trying to win this Ryder Cup, and he was meticulous in his planning.”McIlroy said: “From the first day we got here, the speeches that he gave, the videos he showed us, the people that he got in to talk to us, the imagery in the team room, it all tied in together; all part of the plan all for the cause of trying to win this Ryder Cup, and he was meticulous in his planning.”
The contrast with Watson’s approach could not be starker. Sir Alex Ferguson, the man brought in to give McGinley’s 12 players a pre-tournament team talk, was an intriguing choice partly because he started out as an authoritarian but moulded his management style over the years as the game changed.The contrast with Watson’s approach could not be starker. Sir Alex Ferguson, the man brought in to give McGinley’s 12 players a pre-tournament team talk, was an intriguing choice partly because he started out as an authoritarian but moulded his management style over the years as the game changed.
Handed the challenge of moulding 12 millionaire golfers from different countries, several of whom live in Florida, into a cohesive whole, McGinley soaked up all of those lessons and that advice.Handed the challenge of moulding 12 millionaire golfers from different countries, several of whom live in Florida, into a cohesive whole, McGinley soaked up all of those lessons and that advice.
“Certainly our template is very much involved with player discussions. Knowing the players very well but also knowing the caddies as well, too,” explained McGinley.“Certainly our template is very much involved with player discussions. Knowing the players very well but also knowing the caddies as well, too,” explained McGinley.
“The caddies are a great source of information, and also their coaches and also their managers and the people they have around them. They are all important and I’ve spent a lot of time over the last few years gathering information.”“The caddies are a great source of information, and also their coaches and also their managers and the people they have around them. They are all important and I’ve spent a lot of time over the last few years gathering information.”
García stopped him dead. “Please don’t give away all the secrets, Paul,” he pleaded with a smile. For Watson, his failure to find his own secret formula will weigh heavy for some time to come.García stopped him dead. “Please don’t give away all the secrets, Paul,” he pleaded with a smile. For Watson, his failure to find his own secret formula will weigh heavy for some time to come.